The 11th (East Africa) Infantry Division was a

British Empire The British Empire was composed of the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It began with the overseas possessions and trading posts esta ...

colonial unit formed in February 1943 during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

Formation

In 1943, the 11th (East Africa) Division was formed primarily of troops from

British East Africa East Africa Protectorate (also known as British East Africa) was an area in the African Great Lakes occupying roughly the same terrain as present-day Kenya from the Indian Ocean inland to the border with Uganda in the west. Controlled by Bri ...

. The division should not be confused with the earlier

11th (African) Division 11 (eleven) is the natural number following 10 and preceding 12. It is the first repdigit. In English, it is the smallest positive integer whose name has three syllables. Name "Eleven" derives from the Old English ', which is first attested i ...

which was composed of brigades both from British East Africa and from

Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...

British West Africa British West Africa was the collective name for British colonies in West Africa during the colonial period, either in the general geographical sense or the formal colonial administrative entity. British West Africa as a colonial entity was orig ...

, fought in the East African Campaign and was disbanded in late 1941.

Combat history

African Troops in Burma during the Second World War SE1884

The Division was composed of troops from

Kenya ) , national_anthem = "Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi , ...

Uganda }), is a landlocked country in East Africa East Africa, Eastern Africa, or East of Africa, is the eastern subregion of the African continent. In the United Nations Statistics Division scheme of geographic regions, 10-11-(16*) territor ...

Nyasaland Nyasaland () was a British protectorate located in Africa that was established in 1907 when the former British Central Africa Protectorate changed its name. Between 1953 and 1963, Nyasaland was part of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasala ...

Tanganyika Tanganyika may refer to: Places * Tanganyika Territory (1916–1961), a former British territory which preceded the sovereign state * Tanganyika (1961–1964), a sovereign state, comprising the mainland part of present-day Tanzania * Tanzania Main ...

Southern Rhodesia Southern Rhodesia was a landlocked self-governing British Crown colony in southern Africa, established in 1923 and consisting of British South Africa Company (BSAC) territories lying south of the Zambezi River. The region was informally kn ...

Northern Rhodesia Northern Rhodesia was a British protectorate in southern Africa, south central Africa, now the independent country of Zambia. It was formed in 1911 by Amalgamation (politics), amalgamating the two earlier protectorates of Barotziland-North-West ...

, and from

Belgian Congo The Belgian Congo (french: Congo belge, ; nl, Belgisch-Congo) was a Belgian colony in Central Africa from 1908 until independence in 1960. The former colony adopted its present name, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), in 1964. Colo ...

. The 11th (East Africa) Division fought with the Fourteenth Army in

Burma Myanmar, ; UK pronunciations: US pronunciations incl. . Note: Wikipedia's IPA conventions require indicating /r/ even in British English although only some British English speakers pronounce r at the end of syllables. As John Wells explai ...

during the Burma Campaign. In the later part of 1944, the division pursued the Japanese retreating from

Imphal Imphal ( Meitei pronunciation: /im.pʰal/; English pronunciation: ) is the capital city of the Indian state of Manipur. The metropolitan centre of the city contains the ruins of Kangla Palace (also known as Kangla Fort), the royal seat of the fo ...

down the

Kabaw valley The Kabaw Valley also known as Kubo valley is a highland valley in Myanmar's western Sagaing division, close to the border with India's Manipur. The valley is located between Heerok or Yoma ranges of mountains, which constitute the present day bo ...

and established bridgeheads over the Chindwin River. In 1945, elements of the division played a part in the Battle of Meiktila and Mandalay.

Commanding officers

* Major-General

Charles Christopher Fowkes Major-General Charles Christopher Fowkes (4 December 1894 – 1 July 1966) was an officer in the British Army during the Second World War. His nickname was "Fluffy." Military career Fowkes was born in Lewisham, Kent, England, in 1894. He was ...

(February 1943 – December 1944) * Major-General

Robert Mansergh General Sir Eric Carden Robert Mansergh, (12 May 1900 – 8 November 1970) was a senior British Army officer during and after the Second World War. Military career Robert Mansergh was born in Cape Colony and educated at the Rondebosch Boys' Hig ...

(January 1945 – February 1945) * Major-General

William Alfred Dimoline Major General William Alfred Dimoline, (6 July 1897 – 24 November 1965) was a senior British Army officer who saw service during the First and Second World Wars. His nickname was "Dimmy." Early career Dimoline was educated at Dean Close Sch ...

(March 1945 – August 1945)

Order of battle

21st East African Brigade

Under Brig. J. F. Macnab: * 2nd (Nyasaland) Battalion,

King's African Rifles The King's African Rifles (KAR) was a multi-battalion British colonial regiment raised from Britain's various possessions in East Africa from 1902 until independence in the 1960s. It performed both military and internal security functions within ...

* 4th (Uganda) Battalion, King's African Rifles * 1st Battalion,

Nigeria Regiment The Nigeria Regiment, Royal West African Frontier Force, was formed by the amalgamation of the Northern Nigeria Regiment and the Southern Nigeria Regiment on 1 January 1914. At that time, the regiment consisted of five battalions: *1st Batta ...

*1st Battalion,

Northern Rhodesia Regiment The Northern Rhodesia Regiment (NRR) was a multi-battalion British colonial regiment raised from the protectorate of Northern Rhodesia. It was formed in 1933 from elements of the Northern Rhodesia Police, which had been formed during Company ...

25th East African Brigade

Under Brig. N. C. Hendricks: * 11th (Kenya) Battalion, King's African Rifles * 26th (Tanganyika) Battalion, King's African Rifles * 34th (Uganda) Battalion, King's African Rifles *1st Battalion,

Rhodesia Regiment The Rhodesia Regiment (RR) was one of the oldest and largest regiments in the Rhodesian Army. It served on the side of the United Kingdom in the Second Boer War and the First and Second World Wars and served the Republic of Rhodesia in the Rhode ...

26th East African Brigade

Under Brig. V. K. H. Channer (to 18 November 1944), and Brig. A. P. Walsh (from 18 November 1944): * 22nd (Nyasaland) Battalion, King's African Rifles * 36th (Tanganyika) Battalion, King's African Rifles * 44th (Uganda) Battalion, King's African Rifles * 1st Battalion,

Rhodesian African Rifles The Rhodesian African Rifles (RAR) was a regiment of the Rhodesian Army. The ranks of the RAR were recruited from the black African population, although officers were generally from the white population. The regiment was formed in May 1940 in the ...

(later 22nd East African Brigade,

XV Indian Corps The XV Corps was a corps-sized formation of the British Indian Army, which was formed in India during the Second World War. It took part in the Burma Campaign and was disbanded after the end of the war. While part of the British Indian Army, it ...

)

Divisional units

* 5th Battalion, King's African Rifles (divisional reconnaissance unit) * 13th Battalion, King's African Rifles (HQ defence unit) * 10th Belgian Congo Casualty Clearing Station

Divisional artillery

Under CRA Brig. J. V. D. Radford: * 302nd East African Field Regiment * 303rd East African Field Regiment * 304th East African Field Regiment

Divisional engineers

* 34th East African Field Company * 58th East African Field Company * 64th East African Field Company * 62nd East African Field Park Company

Divisional signals

* 11th East African Divisional Signals

References

External links

British Military History - East Africa 1940 - 47

Order of Battle for 11th East Africa Division
{{British Army Divisions 11 11 Kenya in World War II 11 Military units and formations in Burma in World War II Military units and formations established in 1943 Military units and formations disestablished in 1945